Bloody Curse | Book Two of Blood Trilogy

Chapter 13

Asher 

The alarm blared and something immediately felt wrong. I turned around in time to see Caleb bolt off towards the stairs leading to the second level. Violet. A gut instinct twisted telling me that it had to do something with her. 

My answer was revealed as soon as I stepped through Zayden's room in a panicked manner. My chest puffed and eyes held wide open when I could only see my daughter along with the other three. Violet was nowhere insight. 

"A-Asher, I tried to stop her. She scared me. Something came over her. I'm sorry." Aidan flustered. I glared at him and he knew well enough what the look meant. I let go of my breath and pinched my eyes together in attempt to calm my senses down. Something told me that she was not even close to the castle. That she was somewhere out there. I glanced up to gaze along the line where trees flourished. 

"She's out there." I mumbled to myself, attracting Caleb's attention. He looked up to my rigid form. His arms around his wife and a hand was placed firmly against her round belly. I sent a nod in understanding if he wanted to stay with Jillian. 

When I turned to go out the door, my heart dropped a little. He showed no sign of movement, he sat planted beside Jillian. I accepted his choice and gestured for Derek and Cameron to follow along. The other two guards stood outside the room in respects to our privacy. The four marched after me at a quick pace as I went straight out the back door. 

I caught her scent in the wind that pushed the loose tendrils of my hair away from my forehead. I sighed in the chilled night and followed her trail of mesmerizing smell. 

I hopped over the wall and landed steadily on my feet. Four thuds dropped behind me. I knew for certain that the men were brave enough to aid me through the winding trees. We made sure to not make any noise to catch attention from whoever we were facing. Fear rose inside my body and I knew that it was radiating from Violet. She shouldn't be too far away. 

My heart trembled and I felt like suffocating, but I pushed my legs forward to find her as soon as possible. I turned right on the trail which led up to another fork in the road. One way led farther into the woods and the other led directly to the castle walls. It was a 50/50 chance. I could not focus under the pressure of fear shaking my body. I grasped onto my hands firmly in attempt to quit the shuddering but it would not control itself. 

I growled internally and proceeded to the left where the deeper parts of the forest laid. The hair on the back of my neck stood and I turned around to push past Derek, Cameron, and the two guards. 

Her smaller form was revealed slightly through the clouded moonlight. I reached forward, but retreated my hand back when I followed her gaze to the thing that scared her. Two blaring red eyes- much like the night when she was attacked years ago. 

"Violet, run!" I shouted with as much power as I could muster. I charged towards the Shadow but it shifted in its position and flowed closer to my wife. A lump grew in my throat and I changed directions to run towards her. 

She curled to the side and screamed, bracing herself for the impact of whatever the Shadow had prepared. It washed through her like a cloud of darkness. 

"No, Violet!" My eyes filled with tears threatening to fall. My knees longed to give out from under me, but I remained still watching the effects unfold before me. Everything was happening so slowly, just for the Shadow to enjoy my audience. 

The Shadow wrapped her in an embrace and she was still screaming. It echoed off the forest floor. It echoed off the tree trunks. It echoed off my aching heart. 

Then it was gone. Nothing. Absolute silence. Not even a single wildlife sounded. 

I sprinted to her laying form. My hands shook violently as I took her hands into mine. Tears streaked down my cheeks endlessly. If I lost her, then I don't know what was to come next. I would be incomplete without her. I stared hopelessly into her peaceful face. A hand brushing her hair to the side, which rested in a angelic halo around her face. 

"Violet, my love. Don't do this now. I know you're still in there." My lips shook as I spoke those words. I pressed a palm against her chest in hopes to hear a heartbeat and I did. It was faint initially but beat fiercely at my touch. I gave her my energy to regain strength. I breathed slowly and flowed her my spirit. The mother of my child shall never leave us. 

A slow breath came through her slightly ajar lips. I sat up and searched her nonexistent expressions. Her eyes snapped open and she gasped for a lungful of air. I closed my eyes and wiped at the tears that reflected in the night. I couldn't contain myself but wrap my arms around her neck and hugged her tightly as if I were strangling her. She dug her nails into my back while squeezing a hug in return. 

Cameron breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted her recovering form. He hugged Derek and chuckled. "Woman, do you have any idea how much you scared me?" Cameron exclaimed all while his head rested on Derek's shoulder. She glanced down shyly at his question. She finally grew aware of the chaos that she started with us five men. 

"I apologize." She mumbled in a soft voice. "I thought I could get answers from the creature. Why this all happened. Our poor baby boy." She whispered her last statement and I pulled her in for a heart-wrenching hug. "And why that happened to your mother." 

I closed my eyes and knew that what she had just  told me was true. My mother was gone. Forever. Sadness dominated all emotions coursing through both of our bodies. I rubbed the length of her arm and stood slowly, pulling her with me. 

She stood on trembling legs and gripped onto my bicep so hard that I could feel her nails digging through the shirt. Cameron stepped forward to offer help, but she just smiled and gave him a look that told him she had it. He fell back with the rest of the crowd. Derek giving him a kiss on the forehead before we all filed down the trail towards the wall. 

"Do you have enough strength to jump, my love?" I whispered into her ear. She looked up at me with fearful eyes. I knew she could, but she could also potentially injure herself in the doing. I nodded to the four men to go on ahead while Violet and I started around the corner towards the wrought-iron gates. 

The two lanterns hung on each side of the entry way illuminated the night. I smiled warmly at the lighted entrance. I held Violet before me at arms length to allow her safely inside first, but she stumbled backwards as soon as the gate was stood facing directly at us. I stood frozen on my tracks. My heart accelerating at the scene before me. 

Two guards sat on the cobblestone ground with their backs against the gates. Their bodies strapped with chains that bonded their figures against the gate tightly. Their heartbeats barely evident. Violet and I ran forward in the aid of the two men. I could not pull open the chains with my remaining strength. Violet was just as hopeless. 

We needed to get help and everyone inside before anyone else got hurt. 

A/N: Welcome back, loves!!

Well something seems off...two updates within two days (0.0) I just thought to surprise you all before school started and I guess Chapter 12 gave me an idea for this chapter and I hoped you like this novel so far!! 

I am no longer at a writer's block so I am glad. I love the fact that I could write again. 

I hope you all have been doing well :) take care until next update.

~Jade xoxo

P.S. Don't be surprised if I update later on in the evening. But until then, take care and have a wonderful day/ night.